# SSR 68-28: SSR 68-28: Rescinded 1978

> Federal · Rulings · Rescinded

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_68_28

## Section

- **Citation:** SSR 68-28
- **Heading:** SSR 68-28: Rescinded 1978
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Rulings
- **Status:** Rescinded
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Social Security Rulings / OASI / Wife's Insurance Benefits / SSR 68-28

## Text

SSR 68-28

Where a husband and wife entered into an agreement which stipulated that
the husband was to transfer an automobile, furniture, securities and
income therefrom to the wife, and she in return waived her right to
alimony, where the agreement was incorporated by reference in a subsequent
decree of divorce, and where the former husband made no subsequent
payments to his former wife before his award of old-age insurance
benefits, held, constitutes support under section 202(b)(1)(D) of
the Act; therefore, since she did not receive one-half of her support from
her former husband or substantial contributions toward her support from
him pursuant to a written agreement, and did not have a court order
requiring him to make substantial contributions for her support, the
divorced wife is not entitled to wife's insurance benefits.

The worker, R, and his wife, W, were married in June 1924. In August
1963, they entered into a "stipulation and agreement" for the division of
certain property. Under the agreement, W received an automobile, all
household furniture, one-half of the stocks and bonds owned by the couple,
the subsequent dividends payable thereon, and one-half of the mineral
interests of the parties. In consideration of the property division, W
expressly waived all right to alimony, dower, and future interest in R's
property. The terms of this stipulation and agreement were incorporated
into the final decree of divorce between R and W in September 1963.

R filed application and became entitled to old-age insurance benefits
effective March 1965. Thereafter, W, then age 68, filed application in
September 1966 for wife's insurance benefits under the provisions of
section 202(b)(1)(D) of the Social Security Act, as amended. She contended
that since she was being supported by the property received under the
financial settlement and the proceeds therefrom, she thereby met the
support requirements of the Act as a divorced wife.
1965. Thereafter, W, then age 68, filed application in
September 1966 for wife's insurance benefits under the provisions of
section 202(b)(1)(D) of the Social Security Act, as amended. She contended
that since she was being supported by the property received under the
financial settlement and the proceeds therefrom, she thereby met the
support requirements of the Act as a divorced wife.

Section 202(b)(1) of the Act as amended provides in pertinent part that
wife's insurance benefits may be payable for months after August 1965 to a
divorced wife of an individual entitled to old-age insurance benefits if
she has filed application, has attained age 62, is not married,
and:—

(D) * * * was receiving at least one-half of her support, as determined
in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, from such
individual, or was receiving substantial contributions from such
individual (pursuant to a written agreement) or there was in effect a
court order for substantial contributions to her support from such
individual—* * * (ii) * * * at the time he became entitled to
old-age insurance benefits * * *.

Section 216(d)(1) of the Act, as amended, provides that:

The term "divorced wife" means a woman divorced from an individual, but
only if she had been married to such individual for a period of 20 years
immediately before the date the divorce became effective.

The question thus presented is whether the proceeds of the property
settlement between R and W having been used by W for her maintenance from
the date of the divorce until the date of R's application, constitute
"support" within the meaning of section 202(b)(1)(D) of the Act, cited
above. All other requirements for entitlement were met, including the 20
years of marriage.
ame effective.

The question thus presented is whether the proceeds of the property
settlement between R and W having been used by W for her maintenance from
the date of the divorce until the date of R's application, constitute
"support" within the meaning of section 202(b)(1)(D) of the Act, cited
above. All other requirements for entitlement were met, including the 20
years of marriage.

On the basis of the financial and property settlement between R and W, it
is clear that no provision was made for alimony or contributions for the
support of W. Indeed, one of the considerations for the settlement was
that alimony, dower, and all future interests in the property of R were to
be waived. The divorce decree incorporated the terms of the waiver, and
although the decree states that the agreement "is in full settlement of
all property rights and alimony between the parties," the agreement itself
contained no provision for alimony.

With respect to any dividends which W may have received on the stock
transfer to her, such dividends may not be considered as contributions to
her support. This stems from the fact that R transferred the stock
ownership to W at the time of their property settlement. Title to the
stock and all benefits of ownership were thus invested in W. Thus, where R
retained no control over, or right of reversion in, the stocks or the
dividends therefrom, the dividend income was income received from W's own
property and not from R.

Accordingly, as W has received from R no contributions for support since
the divorce, it is held that at the time R became entitled to old-age
insurance benefits in March 1965, W was not receiving one-half of her
support from him, nor was she receiving substantial contributions from him
pursuant to a written agreement, nor was there in effect a court order
requiring R to make substantial contributions for her support; therefore,
W is not entitled to wife's insurance benefits as the divorced wife or
R.

## Nearby sections

- [SSR 62-21 SSR 62-21. WIFE'S INSURANCE BENEFIT -- BENEFIT AMOUNT WHERE HUSBAND'S OLD-AGE INSURANCE BENEFIT IS REDUCED](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_62_21.md)
- [SSR 62-57 SSR 62-57. RELATIONSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR WIFE'S INSURANCE BENEFITS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_62_57.md)
- [SSR 63-1 SSR 63-1: SECTION 202(b). -- WIFE'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- IN HER CARE -- CHILD OVER 18 YEARS OF AGE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_63_1.md)
- [SSR 64-16 SSR 64-16: SECTION 202(b). -- WIFE'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- BENEFIT AMOUNT WHERE WIFE UNDER 65 IS ENTITLED TO DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_64_16.md)
- [SSR 66-1 SSR 66-1: SECTION 202(b). -- TERMINATION OF MARRIAGE -- PURPORTED FOREIGN DIVORCE -- DOMICILE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_66_1.md)
- [SSR 67-10c SSR 67-10c: SECTIONS 202(b) and 216(h)(1)(A). -- RELATIONSHIP -- VALIDITY OF DIVORCE -- DOMICILE OF THE WORKER](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_67_10c.md)
- [SSR 67-58 SSR 67-58: SECTIONS 202(b)(1), 216(b)(2), and 216(h)(1)(B). -- WIFE'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- ENTITLEMENT OF DEEMED SPOUSE UPON DIVORCE OF LEGAL SPOUSE -- ONE-YEAR DURATION-OF-MARRIAGE REQUIREMENT](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_67_58.md)
- [SSR 68-1 SSR 68-1: SECTIONS 202(b)(1) 202(q). -- WIFE'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- REENTITLEMENT OF DIVORCED WIFE -- AMOUNT OF BENEFIT REDUCTION BEFORE AND AFTER AGE 65](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_68_1.md)
- [SSR 68-2 SSR 68-2: SECTION 202(b)(1)(H). -- RELATIONSHIP -- VALIDITY OF DIVORCE -- MISNOMER OF PARTIES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_68_2.md)
- [SSR 68-28 SSR 68-28: Rescinded 1978](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_68_28.md)
- [SSR 68-41 SSR 68-41: Rescinded 1978](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_68_41.md)
- [SSR 69-1 SSR 69-1: SECTIONS 202(b)(1), 216(d)(1), and 216(d)(4). -- WIFE'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- DIVORCED WIFE -- "DIVORCE A VINCULO MATRIMONII"](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_69_1.md)
- [SSR 69-2 SSR 69-2: Rescinded 1978](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_69_2.md)
- [SSR 69-13 SSR 69-13: SECTIONS 202(a), 202(b), 202(k), and 202(q). -- WIFE'S INSURANCE BENEFIT -- SIMULTANEOUS ENTITLEMENT OF WIFE TO OLD-AGE INSURANCE BENEFITS -- BENEFIT AMOUNT](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_69_13.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_68_28. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
